Modeling and Analysis of Heat Transfer for Roof Structures Built Using Novel Discarded Insulative Materials

Heat transfer through exposed reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roof structures causes major discomfort to the occupants of non-air-conditioned buildings and increases the heat load of air-conditioned buildings. This study was aimed at mitigating this heat transfer by developing low-cost, eco-friendly, and lightweight roof insulation material to lay over typical Indian RCC roof structures. A comprehensive thermal analysis was performed empirically on four different roof configurations simultaneously for a specific period under atmospheric conditions, from the collection of real-time data through instrumentation. Weather station data, including temperature, solar radiation, and the thermophysical properties of the insulative materials, were considered for analytical model development to predict the temperature profile and to calculate the heat load of the building. The results were compared and found to be in good agreement with the empirical results.